Letter to the Editor
Use of MKSAP 16 for American Board of Internal Medicine Examination Melissa Genarelli1, Wilbert S. Aronow2
Divisions of General Internal Medicine, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA 2 Divisions of Cardiology, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA 1
Submitted: 22 February 2013 Accepted: 25 February 2013 Arch Med Sci 2015; 11, 6: 1354–1355 DOI: 10.5114/aoms.2015.56365 Copyright © 2015 Termedia & Banach
In reviewing MKSAP 16 in preparation for an American Board of Internal Medicine recertification examination, Dr. Melissa Gennarelli, an internist at Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, asked Dr. Wilbert S. Aronow, a Professor of Cardiology at Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, 2 questions. The first question was why he currently recommends that diabetics with hypertension should have their systolic blood pressure reduced to < 140 mm Hg when MKSAP 16 (page 29 of Cardiovascular Medicine) recommends a systolic blood pressure goal of < 130 mm Hg. The second question was why he does not use dronedarone to treat high-risk patients with permanent atrial fibrillation when MKSAP 16 (page 52 of Cardiovascular Medicine) recommends the use of dronedarone in patients with atrial fibrillation to reduce hospitalization for cardiovascular events or mortality. In reply to the first question, Dr. Aronow stated that on the basis of clinical trial data, the 2009 European Society of Hypertension guidelines [1], the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association 2011 expert consensus document on hypertension in the elderly [2], and an excellent review article on this topic [3] recommend a systolic blood pressure goal of
Use of MKSAP 16 for American Board of Internal Medicine Examination Melissa Genarelli1, Wilbert S. Aronow2
Divisions of General Internal Medicine, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA 2 Divisions of Cardiology, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA 1
Submitted: 22 February 2013 Accepted: 25 February 2013 Arch Med Sci 2015; 11, 6: 1354–1355 DOI: 10.5114/aoms.2015.56365 Copyright © 2015 Termedia & Banach
In reviewing MKSAP 16 in preparation for an American Board of Internal Medicine recertification examination, Dr. Melissa Gennarelli, an internist at Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, asked Dr. Wilbert S. Aronow, a Professor of Cardiology at Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, 2 questions. The first question was why he currently recommends that diabetics with hypertension should have their systolic blood pressure reduced to < 140 mm Hg when MKSAP 16 (page 29 of Cardiovascular Medicine) recommends a systolic blood pressure goal of < 130 mm Hg. The second question was why he does not use dronedarone to treat high-risk patients with permanent atrial fibrillation when MKSAP 16 (page 52 of Cardiovascular Medicine) recommends the use of dronedarone in patients with atrial fibrillation to reduce hospitalization for cardiovascular events or mortality. In reply to the first question, Dr. Aronow stated that on the basis of clinical trial data, the 2009 European Society of Hypertension guidelines [1], the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association 2011 expert consensus document on hypertension in the elderly [2], and an excellent review article on this topic [3] recommend a systolic blood pressure goal of
